2 weeks out...

I am 2 weeks out from this show, and all I can think about is FOOD. My entire day literally revolves around food. I am either cooking, eating, watching the food network or staring at some random internet sites that involve some good looking FOOD. My calories are not deathly low, but the lack of freedom in my diet and the monotony of chicken breast and egg whites can only last for so long. I found Chowhound, which is a fat person's heaven on the internet. I love it so much that I even signed up and registered for the freaking site. I have also been reading various blogs regarding food, specifically a "normal" person's review of a restaurant. I personally cannot stand the fancy, schmancy reviews that the LA times or Zagat gives to food places. They're idea of a good place is expensive, extremely high quality, and usually has some type of story behind it. Whether it is a city landmark or the restaurant is backed by a high-end chef. Me? I could care less about those things. What I care about is getting my money's worth and feeling satisfied that I enjoyed my freshly cooked meal. Who cares if that cow was massaged and fed only grass for the last year of its life in order to marble the fat within the beef. All I care about is that I paid $40 for a good steak and I better get $40 worth of steak. Not some little 8 oz steak that tastes almost identical to something I could pay half the price for elsewhere. Which brings me to my favorite show on the food network, "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." While I could care less for Guy Fieri and his unique sense of humor, I enjoy the types of food served at the places he visits. Decent portions, fair price, good taste. The ONLY 3 things that matter to me.

Enough rambling, here are a few random things I have thought about during these last few weeks.

-BBQ!!! My absolute favorite types of restaurant to eat at. I'm a baby back rib guy, but according to most rib "experts," the real test comes from the St. Louis (or regular size) ribs. Apparently, baby back ribs are the product of corporate restaruants. Anyway, nothing irks me more than BOILED ribs (i.e. Tony Roma's). I can definitely tell when they are boiled because they fall off the bone too easily, and not in the way that slow cooked ribs are supposed to fall. I do not mind regular grilled ribs because I am a fan of regular, old charcoal, and smoked are always the best. But I'd rather eat a fake rib, ala McRib at McDonalds, before I eat a boiled rib.

-Apple Pie. I want a huge slice of dutch apple pie with a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream, post contest. Plain and simple. Might as well throw a few oatmeal rasin cookies around this, while I'm at it. ;)

-Trader Joe's is the absolute best when it comes to all natural foods. NO ONE can beat their prices. $2.79 for a dozen omega 3 eggs, $1.79 for 16 oz of all natural peanut butter, roughly $2 for any bag of frozen veggies. Maybe you can catch some of these deals cheaper at your local grocer when they are on sale, but Trader Joe's keeps these same prices every day of the year. You cannot go wrong buying anything in there.

That's about it. Sorry for the lack of substance, but my mind is completely in shut down mode right now. I have not had a cheat since mid February, and have not had real carbs since the last weekend in February. I feel like a robot just going through the motions. All I am looking forward to is the carb-up prior to this first show. Yams, oatmeal, rice, and popcorn. Cannot wait. First things I am cheating with after this show are ribs, apple pie, and a peanut butter and honey sandwich. Mmm Mmm Goooood.